Don't SPEAK FOR ME
“White people always tell us what to do. I don’t like that,” an Indigenous friend told me in my studio.
Some caring and compassionate people want to help Indigenous people make changes. They help Indigenous people in their own way. There is nothing wrong to care about them. But it often ends up making decisions for Indigenous people which go against their will. There is no lack of compassion in Australia for it is one of the countries in the world to take in the most refugees each year. But caring people may have a condescending attitude towards whom they care about. For the sake of "caring", a noble and civilised word, they seek to change Indigenous people to achieve their wishful thinking. Sadly, discrimination against Indigenous people under the guise of "civilisation" is widely accepted. But fortunately, Indigenous traditional culture is not completely destroyed by modern civilisation.
Therefore, I painted this "Don't Speak for Me" (180x180cm).
In the centre of the work is a plain white plastic chair, against which propped a piece of cardboard taken apart from a box. It reads: “Don't speak for me!” In the background is desert. Uluru lies across the horizon. Nowadays Indigenous people are still fighting for their rights, social recognition, and to break through “segregation".
On Indigenous issues, please do not attempt to make changes. One should place a proper mindset before taking an action. In so doing, it may make a difference.
Some caring and compassionate people want to help Indigenous people make changes. They help Indigenous people in their own way. There is nothing wrong to care about them. But it often ends up making decisions for Indigenous people which go against their will. There is no lack of compassion in Australia for it is one of the countries in the world to take in the most refugees each year. But caring people may have a condescending attitude towards whom they care about. For the sake of "caring", a noble and civilised word, they seek to change Indigenous people to achieve their wishful thinking. Sadly, discrimination against Indigenous people under the guise of "civilisation" is widely accepted. But fortunately, Indigenous traditional culture is not completely destroyed by modern civilisation.
Therefore, I painted this "Don't Speak for Me" (180x180cm).
In the centre of the work is a plain white plastic chair, against which propped a piece of cardboard taken apart from a box. It reads: “Don't speak for me!” In the background is desert. Uluru lies across the horizon. Nowadays Indigenous people are still fighting for their rights, social recognition, and to break through “segregation".
On Indigenous issues, please do not attempt to make changes. One should place a proper mindset before taking an action. In so doing, it may make a difference.